How to Change a SharePoint Site Name

Changing a SharePoint site name updates the name people see in places such as the site header and site listings. It is useful after a team, department, project, or site purpose changes. The steps below apply to modern SharePoint sites in Microsoft 365; labels and menus can differ slightly by version, site type, and organization settings.

What You’ll Need

Access to the site: Sign in with the work or school account that can open the SharePoint site.
Permission to edit site information: Usually, you need to be a site owner or a SharePoint administrator. A site member may not have the required permission.
The preferred new name: Choose a clear name that fits your organization’s naming conventions. If the change affects a widely used site, tell its users before renaming it.

Step-by-Step

Open the correct site. Go to SharePoint and select the site you want to rename. Check the site name and, if available, its address so you do not change a similarly named site by mistake. For a communication site or a team site connected to Microsoft 365, start from the SharePoint site itself.
Open Settings. Select the gear icon near the upper-right corner. If you do not see the gear, your screen may be narrow, the interface may differ slightly, or your account may not have the necessary access.
Choose Site information. In the Settings panel, select Site information. This option is commonly available to site owners. If it is missing, use the troubleshooting guidance below rather than trying to change unrelated settings.
Edit the site name. In the Site name field, replace the current name with the new one. Use a recognizable name and avoid adding unnecessary details that could make it hard to find in navigation or search results.
Review the other fields before saving. Site information may also show a description, privacy setting, or site address. Change only what you intend to change. The site name is not the same as the URL, and changing the name alone generally does not rename the address.
Save the change. Select Save. The new name should appear in the site header and may take a short time to show consistently in other Microsoft 365 views. Refresh the page if the old name remains visible.
Check the result and notify users. Reopen the site and confirm the name is correct. Check any prominent links, navigation labels, or instructions that display the old name, and let regular users know about the change.

Menu names and button locations may differ slightly by SharePoint version and organization configuration. The site’s connected Microsoft 365 group or Teams experience can also have its own name and settings. Changing the SharePoint site name does not automatically mean every connected service or reference will display the new name immediately.

Common Mistakes

Expecting the web address to change: The site name and site URL are separate. A name update usually changes the display name, not the address used in links. If you need a new URL, treat that as a separate administrative change and check your organization’s SharePoint process.
Renaming the wrong site: Organizations may have several sites with similar names. Confirm the site and its purpose before saving, especially if you manage more than one.
Changing more than the name: Site information can include other settings. Avoid changing privacy, description, or address fields unless that is part of the planned update.
Assuming all connected services update together: A SharePoint site can be associated with a Microsoft 365 group or Teams. Their names, navigation, and displayed references may be managed separately or take time to reflect the change.
Forgetting existing links and documents: Even when the URL stays the same, people may rely on the old name in bookmarks, instructions, screenshots, or internal documentation. Update materials where the old label could cause confusion.

Tips

Choose a durable name. Use the team, function, or ongoing purpose rather than a temporary detail that may soon become outdated.
Keep the name easy to scan. Use wording colleagues will recognize in SharePoint search and navigation. Follow any capitalization or naming conventions your organization uses.
Coordinate before renaming a shared site. Give site owners and frequent users advance notice if the change could surprise them, and explain whether the URL is staying the same.
Check connected services separately. If the site is connected to Teams or a Microsoft 365 group, ask the relevant owner or administrator whether those names also need updating.
Use the right admin route for a URL change. Do not assume editing the Site name field will alter the address. URL changes have separate controls and can affect links, so follow Microsoft Support guidance or ask your SharePoint administrator.

Troubleshooting

Site information is missing: You may not be a site owner, or your organization may have restricted the setting. Ask a site owner to make the change or contact your SharePoint administrator. Avoid trying to work around access controls.

Save is unavailable or the change fails: Confirm that you are signed in to the intended work account and have permission. Check that the name is acceptable under your organization’s policies, then refresh and try again. If the issue continues, provide your administrator with the site link and the exact error message.

The old name still appears: Refresh the page or reopen the site. Some Microsoft 365 pages, search results, or cached navigation can take time to update. Check again later; if the site header still shows the old name, ask an administrator to verify that the change saved.

The URL did not change: That is expected when you only edit the display name. If a different address is required, ask a SharePoint administrator about the separate site URL change process and its effects on existing links.

Teams or a group still shows the old name: The connected service may have separate naming controls. Ask its owner or your administrator which name needs changing and where to make that update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing a SharePoint site name change its URL?

No. The display name and URL are separate. Changing the name in Site information generally leaves the web address unchanged.

Can a site member rename a SharePoint site?

Usually, only a site owner or SharePoint administrator can edit site information. If you cannot see the setting or save the change, ask an owner or administrator.

Will renaming the site delete files or pages?

Changing the display name is not intended to delete site content. Still, confirm the correct site before saving, and contact an administrator if you see an unexpected change.

Can I change the name back?

In most cases, a site owner or administrator can edit the name again through Settings and Site information. A separate URL change may have different consequences and should be handled by an administrator.

Does the connected Team change name too?

Not necessarily. A connected Team or Microsoft 365 group may have a separately managed name, so check its settings or ask its owner.

Why can’t I see the Settings gear?

The interface may hide or reposition it, particularly on a small screen, or your account may lack access. Try a desktop browser and confirm your permissions with a site owner.

Further reading: Microsoft Support. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.